Well tools and manipulating devices therefor



WELL TOOLS AND MANIPULATING DEVICES THEREFOR Filed Feb. 12, 1959 C. C.BROWN Jan. 29, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l C/cero C. Brown INVENTOR VM WQ BYyr! 5-. 5M

6 flflww ATTORNEYJ Jan. 29, 1963 c. c. BROWN 3,075,584

WELL TOOLS AND MANIPULATING DEVICES THEREFOR Filed Feb. 12, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 2 yywz 5/ 4, /0b 4 A6 -1 32 L C/cero C. Brown INVENTOR.

f. M 777M4 2 BY W1 x5 414mm ATTORNEYS Jan. 29, 1963 C. C. BROWN WELLTOOLS AND MANIPULATING DEVICES THEREFOR Filed Feb. 12, 1959 4 Streets-Sheet 3 I I13 I 7/ 9-1/4 j I */05 f: 5422 z h 6' A 1 I06 C ICE R0 C.BROWN IN V EN TOR.

AT 0ENE Y5 Jan. 29, 1963 c. c. BROWN 3,075,584

WELL TOOLS AND MANIPULATING DEVICES THEREFOR Filed Feb. 12, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 4 C/CERO C. EROW/V INVENTOR. J ww we? y Z Z ATT NE Y5 4 6 52 2 2 2 2 Z 7 Z 0 0 7/7602 2 MZV r United States Patent for! 3,675,584WELL 'ELQL?) AND MANEEULA'EENG DEVECES THEREEUR Cicero C. Brown, EU. Box11.5 235, Houston, Tex.

Feb. i2, 195%, Sea. No. 7%,?22 11 Claims. (Cl. 166-434) This inventionrelates to well tools.

As is well known, support pipe or tubing for well tools is ordinarily"formed of sections or links of pipe which are threaded together withright-hand threads. It is, therefore, very desirable that well toolswhich are manipulated by rotation of the support pipe be manipulatedentirely by a right-hand or clockwise rotation of said support pipe toprevent uncoupling of the sections or links or" said support pipe. Forinstance, a packer may be set and unset by rotating the supporting pipe,a valve may be opened or closed by rotation of the supporting pipe, itmay be desirable to anchor any one of a number of difierent types ofdevices at a particular point in the well, or it may be desirable tomerely anchor the pipe at a particular point in the well. Othersituations in which the support pipe is rotated to accomplish variousobjects will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for moving twoparts toward and away from each other by a right-hand or clockwiserotation of the support pipe.

Another object is to provide a device for use with any type of well toolwhich is provided with two alternative positions, such device changingthe well tool between its two alternative positions with right-handrotation of the support pipe.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved well packerwhich is adapted to be manipulated entirely by a right-hand or clockwiserotation, whereby the uncoupling or unthreading of the sections of thepipe supporting the packer is avoided.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved wellpacker having means for setting same into contact with a well casing orpipe by a rotation of the support pipe for the packer in one direction,and means for releasing the packer from said contact by a rotation ofthe support pipe in the same direction, the direction of rotation forsetting and releasing the packer being that direction which tends totighten the threaded connections of the sections of the support pipe.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved well packerhaving means for setting same into contact with a well casing or pipe bya right-hand rotation of the support pipe for the packer where saidsupport is formed of a plurality of sections or lengths which arecoupled together by right-hand threads, and means for releasing thepacker from said contact by a right-hand rotation of the support pipe,whereby uncoupling or unthreading or" the sections or lengths of thesupport pipe is avoided.

till another object of this invention is to provide an improved wellpacker having a packing assembly including anchoring means which isadapted to be set into contact with a well casing by an endwisecompressive force applied by a rotation of the support pipe in adirection tending to couple together the threaded sections of thesupport pipe for the packer; said packing assembly being releasable fromsaid contact by a rotation of the support pipe in the same direction asfor the setting of the packer, whereby uncoupling of the sections of thesupport pipe is prevented during the manipulation of the packer for thesetting and release thereof.

Another object of this device is to provide an anchor for anchoring anydesired tool, or for merely anchoring 3535,54 Patented Jan. 29, 1963 thewell pipe in a well and for releasing said anchor by rotation of thesupport pipe in the same direction.

Another object is to provide an improved valve for controlling how offluid into and out of a support pipe in which the valve may be openedand closed by right hand rotation of the support pipe.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from :a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein examples of the invention are shown, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration, partly in elevation and partly insection, of the well packer of this invention in its set position in awell casing.

FIGURES 2 and 2A are views, partly in elevation and partly in section,illustrating the details of the well packer of this invention, withFIGURE 2 illustrating the upper portion thereof and FIGURE 2Aillustrating the lower portion thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4d of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of ananchoring device constructed in accordance with this invention in itsunset position;

PEGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the anchor in setposition;

PEGURE 7 is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross-sectionillustrating a valve constructed in accordance with this invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a view along the line 88 of FIGURE 7.

In the drawings, the letter A designates generally the well packer ofthis invention which is adapted to be lowered into a well casing or pipeC on a lowering or support pipe P, which extends to the surface of thewell. The well packer A includes a packing assembly E which is adaptedto be set or radially expanded into contact with the inside surface ofthe well casing or pipe C upon the application of an endwise compressiveforce thereto. The endwise compressive longitudinal force for settingthe packing assembly F is applied by moving an annular actuating memberor sleeve Ill and a nut 11 threaded thereto toward each other by therotation of the support pipe P, as will be explained in detailhereinafter. The packing assembly F is elongated longitudinally toretract same radially from contact with the well casing C by alongitudinal movement of the sleeve ill and nut 11 away from each other,as will be explained, so that a. positive setting and releasingmechanism is provided for the packer A of this invention. The packer Ais so constructed that the support pipe P is rotated in the samedirection for setting the packing assembly F as for releasing same.Ordinarily, the sections or lengths of pipe which form the support pipeP are coupled or threaded together with right-hand threads, so that itis important that the manipulation or actuation of the well packer be bya righthand rotation or clockwise as viewed from above in FIG- URE 1, sothat there will be no tendency to uncouple the sections of the supportpipe P during such manipulation. Thus, with this packer, the packingassembly F can be set and released by a right-hand or clockwiserotation.

The details of the packer A of this invention are shown in FIGURES 2 and2A, wherein the packing assembly F is shown as including an annularresilient or elastic sealing element 12 which is formed of rubber or anyother equivalent material, and to which are attached gripping slips 15.The slips are formed in arcuate segments which have a plurality ofspaced openings 16 in which the rubber or other material of the sealingelement 12 is molded to firmly anchor the gripping slips 15 to thesealing element 12.

As can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 2A, the segmental gripping slips 15 areformed at the upper and lower ends of the sealing element 12 and areidentical except that the upper slips 15 are provided with a tongue andgroove connection 17 at their upper ends to a cylinder 19, while thelower slips 15 are provided with a similar tongue and groove connection20 by a cylinder 21 at their lower ends. These tongue and grooveconnections 17 and 20, of course, permit radial movement of the slips 15for the setting of same into contact with the inside surface of the wellcasing C when the endwise compressive force is applied to the packingassembly F.

The packing assembly F is connected to the actuating sleeve 19 by anannular flange 23 which extends radially outwardly into an internalannular recess 24 in the cylinder 19. The flange Z3 and the recess 24not only provide a swivel connection which permits rotation of thesleeve 10 relative to the cylinder 19 and the rest of the packingassembly F, but it also provides an abutment means for transmitting thelongitudinal movement of the sleeve 10 to the upper end of the packingassembly F. Thus, when the sleeve it) is moved downwardly the lowerradial surface 23a is in contact with the lower wall 24a of the recess24, while upon an upward movement of the sleeve 10, the upper radialsurface 231'; is in contact with the upper wall 24b of the recess 24.

On the external surface of the cylinder 19, friction springs 26 aresecured by rivets or screws 27. Such friction springs 26 have theirupper ends 26a free to slide within longitudinal external grooves 28, sothat such friction springs 26; firmly engage the inside surface of thewell casing C at all times to provide a resistance to longitudinal androtational movement of the cylinder 19 and the parts attached thereto.Near the upper end of the cylinder 19, latching members G are mounted incircumferentially spaced relationship between the friction springs 26.Each of the latching members G includes a fiat leaf spring 39 which isfirmly held at its lower end by screws 31 or similar securing means. Theupper end of the leaf spring of each latching member G has aninwardly-extending latching prong 32 which extends through a radialopening 33 in the cylinder 19.

The upper end of the sleeve 16 is provided with iongitudinally extendinglugs 10a with longitudinal recesses 10b therebetween (FIG. 4) and theprongs 32 on the latching members G are of such length that they extendinto the recesses 10b when they are radially aligned (FIG. 2). When theprongs 32 are in the recesses 1%, the sleeve 10 is prevented fromrotating relative to the cylinder 19 and the portions of the packingassembly F attached thereto.

The sleeve 10 has relatively coarse external threads lite on its lowerend which are in threaded engagement with corresponding internal threadsIlla near the upper end of the annular nut 11. The threads 11a and 10care right-hand threads so that upon a-right-hand or clockwise rotationof the sleeve 19, the sleeve 10 and the nut 11 are moved toward eachother. The nut 11 has a swivel connection with the cylinder 21 by meansof a radial external annular flange ill which fits within an annularrecess 41 in the internal surface of the cylinder '21. Longitudinalmovement of the nut 11 is transmitted to the lower end of the packingassembly by contact of the upper surface dda with the upper wall 41a ofthe,

recess 41 during the upward movement of the nut 11 relative to thesleeve 30. Downward movement of the nut 11 relative to the sleeve 10 isalso transmitted to the lower end of the packing assembly F by thecontact of the lower radial surface ilib with-the lower wall 41b of therecess 41, The lower end of the annular nut 11 is provided withlongitudinally-extending lugs 42 and recesses 43 therebetween which aresubstantially identical with the lugs 10a and recesses 10, respectively,on the sleeve 10.

The lower cylinder 21 has friction springs 44 which are substantiallyidentical with friction springs 26 on the upper cylinder 19 and whichare secured thereto by screws or rivets 45, leaving the upper end 440:free to slide in the longitudinal groove 47, whereby the frictionsprings 44 resiliently contact the inside surface of the well casing Cin the same manner as the friction springs 26. Latching members H arecircumferentially disposed between the friction springs 44 on the lowerexternal surface of the cylinder 21. These latching members H areidentical with the latching members G except that they are inverted sothat the leaf spring 30 of each latching member H has its upper endsecured to the cylinder 21 by screws or similar fastening means 31. Thelatching prong 32' is at the lower end of each latching member H andfits through a radial opening 33' in the lower end of the cylinder 21.The prongs 32' are of such length that they extend into the recesses 43when circumferentially aligned therewith, so as to prevent rotation ofthe nut 11 relative to the cylinder 21.

The support pipe P extends through the well packer A and is slidable ormovable longitudinally with respect thereto within limits. Means areprovided on the support pipe P above the well packer A for co-actionwith the packer to effect a rotation of the sleeve 10 and a consequentsetting or radial expansion of the packing assembly F into contact withthe well casing C. This means includes downwardly-extending longitudinallugs 50 which have corresponding longitudinal recesses 51 therebetween.These lugs 5d are of such width and depth or length that they fit withinthe recesses 1% at the upper end of the sleeve lit. At the same time,the lugs 10a on the sleeve M fit within the recesses 51 so that there isa complete interfitting of the lugs 50 with the lugs Illa whereby anyrotation of the support pipe P is transmitted to the sleeve Slit. Whenthe lugs 50 are lowered with respect to the sleeve 10 and enter into therecesses 14th, the prongs 32 of the latching members G are forcedradially outwardly from their latching position (FIG. 2) so that they donot interfere with the rotation of the sleeve 10 when the lugs 59 andthe lugs Illa are interfitting or interengaging.

Below the well packer A, the support pipe P has upwardly-extendinglongitudinal lugs 53 and corresponding recesses 54 which are similarlyconstructed to the lugs 59 and recesses 51 except that they areinverted. The lugs 53 fit into the recesses 43 and the lugs 42 on thelower cylinder 21 fit within the recesses 54- so that when the supportpipe P is raised from the lower position (FIG. 1) to the raised position(FIG. 2a), the latching members H are forced radially outwardly tounlatch or disengage the latching members H from the annular nut 11,whereby rotation of the support pipe P is transmitted to the annular nut11 through the interengagement of the lugs 42 and 53:. When the rotationis in a right-hand or clockwise direction, as viewed from above thepacker, the nut 11 is caused to move downwardly or away from the sleeve10. It will be apparent that the lugs 50 and 53 on the support pipe Pmust be spaced longitudinally from each other a greater distance thanthe over-all length of the well packer A so that the lugs 54 can beengaged while the lugs '53 are disengaged and also so that the lugs 53can be engaged while the lugs 59 are disengaged.

In the operation of the well packer of this invention, the packer A isslidably mounted on the support pipe P and is lowered on such supportpipe P. The friction springs 26 and 44- engage the well casing duringthe lowering of the well packer into the casing so that the packer tendsto ride up the support pipe P and, in effect, the paclger A is pusheddownwardly into the casing by the support pipe P. When the packer A hasbeen lowered to a predetermined position in the casing C, the packer isset or expanded radially into contact with the well casing C by aright-hand rotation of the support pipe P. Initially, the lugs so on thesupport pipe will interengage with the lugs ltla on the sleeve Ill, ifsuch has not already occurred during the lowering operation, andthereafter the rotation of the support pipe P is transmitted directly tothe sleeve ll). Since the threads ltlc and 11a are relatively coarse,the annular nut 11 ordinarily will not rotate when the sleeve isrotated, but to be certain that the nut 11 does not rotate, the latchingmembers H are spring-biased into the recesses 43 of the nut 11. As thesleeve it? is rotated in a right-hand direction (assuming the threadsIlllc and 11a are right-hand threads), the sleeve ltl and nut 11 aremoved toward each other. During such movement of the sleeve 16longitudinally with respect to the nut 11, a downward force is appliedto the upper end of the packing assembly F by the contact of the lowerradial surface 23a with the inwardly-extending radial shoulder or wall24a and an upwardly-directed force is applied to the lower end of thepacking assembly F by the contact of the upper radial surface sea withthe upper wall 41a, whereby opposing forces are applied to the packingassembly E which tend to compress same and therefore to radially expandthe ealing element 12 and the gripping slips l5 radially outwardly intoengagement with the casing C. After the complete expansion of thesealing element 12 and gripping slips 15 has been effected through therotation of the support pipe P, the usual well operations are carriedThereafter, when it is desired to release the packer A from the contactwith the well casing C, the support pipe P is raised relative to thepacker and the lugs 53 on the support pipe P are brought intointerfitting relationship with the lugs 42 on the lower end of thepacker. When the lugs 53 are brought into such interfitting engagementwith the lugs 42, the lugs 5% have moved upwardly above the lugs Illlaand the latching members G are moved to their latching position (FIG. 2)so as to prevent rotation of the sleeve Ill Similarly, the latchingmembers H have been moved out of latching position (FIG. 2A) so that thenut 11 can be rotated relative to the cylinder 21 and the sleeve 1%. Thesupport pipe is again rotated in the right-hand or clockwise directionwhich causes the nut 11 to move downwardly or away from the sleeve lll.Such longitudinal movement of the nut 11 with respect to the sleeve it?applies a downward force to the lower end of the packing assembly Fthrough the contact of the radial surface lfib with the walls 41b and anupward force through the contact of the upper radial surface 23b withthe upper wall 2%, whereby an elongating force is applied to the packingassembly F to return same to its normal undistorted or unexpandedposition (FIGS. 2 and 2A). The packer can then be removed from the wellcasing C by raising the support pipe P therein.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 5 and 6 in which this invention isshown in combination with an anchor. The anchor may be used to fix anydesired device to the wall of the casing by attaching it to theanchoring device. It is also to be noted that the pipe can only movevertically in a limited range and, therefore, attaching a device to thepipe, either above or below the anchor, would effectively iix suchdevice in the well. It is pointed out that, if desired, such an anchormight be fixed in the well to support all or a portion of the weight ofthe tubing. Other uses of the anchor will be apparent to those skilledin the art.

A pipe or section of tubing roe is made up in the well string betweencouplings H21 and N2. Each of these couplings has lugs such as shown at1633 and 104. These lugs function as clutch parts in the mannerheretofore explained. Positioned about the pipe lllltl in both rotativeand slidable relationship therewith is a sleeve we having threadedthereon a not 1%. The sleeve has lug parts 107 which cooperate with lugs164 on the coupling 102 to impart rotation to the sleeve. In likemanner, the nut has lug parts 1% to cooperate with lugs tea on thecoupling lull to impart rotation to the nut. As hereinbefore explained,right-hand rotation of the pipe while the upper clutch parts are inengagement will rotate the sleeve in a clockwise direction, andright-hand rotation of the pipe while the lower clutch parts are inengagement will rotate the nut in a clockwise direction. Of course, theengage ment of the upper and lower clutch parts is alternative, and whenone clutch assembly is engaging the other is disengaged to permitrelative rotation between the nut and the sleeve.

in order to hold the nut and sleeve against rotation when the other ofthese two parts is being rotated by the pipe, a drag means is provided.Referring first to the drag means for the sleeve, an upper cylinder 109is rotatably positioned on the sleeve by the engagement of thecircumferential slot lfltl within cylinder 169 with thecircumferentially extending flange 111 on the exterior of sleeve 1%.

In order to prevent rotation of cylinder 169, a plurality of frictionsprings 1112 are carried thereby to engage with the wall of the casingpipe.

The sleeve and cylinder ll are releasably latched together by a latchprong H? which is carried by a leaf spring H4 and extends into the spacebetween adjacent lugs to! on the sleeve. Leaf spring 114 is carried bythe cylinder H89 and, therefore, the sleeve and cylinder are latchedtogether when the latching prong 113 is in position between lugs llti7.

Means are provided for resisting rotation of nut 106, and are generallysimilar to the means for resisting rotation of the sleeve. A lowercylinder 115 is rotatably mounted on the exterior of nut res and is heldagainst longitudinal movement therealong by an annular enlargement ltloaon the nut which is received within an annular groove lil in cylinderH5.

Latch means to selectively prevent relative rotation between the nut andlower cylinder is provided by a latching prong Ill? which cooperateswith lugs 1% on the nut. T he latching prongs are carried by leafsprings 118 which are in turn secured to the lower cylinder.

A slip assembly for latching the device in position in the well casing119 is provided by a slip expander 121 and a plurality of slips 122. Theslip expander 3 .21 is carried by the lower cylinder M5 and the slipsare carricd by the upper cylinder In operation, the device is run intothe well with the parts in the position shown in FIGURE 5. When thedevice has reached a desired elevation, the upper clutch parts areengaged. Of course, the friction springs will tend to cause the deviceto ride high on the pipe lt'lll, but if the last manipulation of thepipe was not a downward movement, then downward movement of the pipewill engage the upper clutch assembly and disengage the lower clutchassembly. When engaged, the upper latch parts are released to permitrotation of the sleeve relative to the upper friction means. As thelower clutch parts are disengaged, the lower cylinder is latched to thenut and the lower friction springs 123 will resist rotation of the nut.As shown in FIGURE 6, continued rotation moves the nut upwardly alongthe sleeve and forces the slip expander 121 behind the slips 122 to setthe slip assembly against the casing. At this time the weight of thestring may be partially supported on the slip assembly, if desired, orthe anchoring device may be relied upon to position other devices aboveor below the anchoring device at a particular elevation in the well.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8, the invention is shown in combinationwith a valve, and permits opening and closing the valve with right-handrotation of the pipe. in this instance, the well pipe has a section 26%which is interposed between the upper and lower collars Ztld and 2&2.The pipe section 2% has a plurality of elongate fiow passages 2% forconducting iluid between the interior of the pipe and the valvesurrounding the pipe. As the valve and pipe move longitudinally relativeto each other, the passageways 293 should be elongate so as to always bein direct communication with the flow- :ay through the valve to behereinafter described.

The valve surrounds pipe 2% and includes an inner sleeve 264 and anouter sleeve 295. These sleeves have formed therein passageways 2% andZtll, respectively. When these passagesways are aligned, they providefor flow of fluid between the interior and exterior of pipe 2%". Whenthey are not in alignment, the valve is closed and the interior andexterior of pipe 2dr? are effectively isolated.

Suitable seals may be provided between the pipe and two sleeves toconfine flow of fluid. in the illustrated embodiment, O-rings 2% and 2%?seal between the pipe and inner sleeve 26%. It will be noted that theseseals control flow of fluid between the pipe and inner sleeve at anyrelative position of these two parts. O-rings 219 and 211 provide a sealbetween the inner and outer sleeves, and, when the holes 2% and 2437 aremis-aligned, prevent flow of fluid through the valve.

The inner sleeve 2% is provided with friction means in the form of anupper cylinder 212 which is rotatably positioned thereon and heldagainst longitudinal movement by a .iiange 213 on the inner sleevecooperating with a groove 214 in the upper cylinder. The upper cylinder2 12 is identical with the upper cylinders heretofore described and haslatching prongs 215 carried by leaf springs 216 which cooperate with theinner cylinder to provent relative rotation therebetween and which maybe moved into a disengaged position by the lugs 217 on the upper coliar25H.

The lower end of the inner sleeve is provided with threads 2155 whichcooperate with threads on nut 21). The lower cylinder 22d surrounds nut2,19 and is rotatable thereto. The lower cylinder is held againstlongitudinal movement relative to the nut by a flange 221 on the nutinterfitting in a groove 222 on the lower cylinder. The lower cylindercarries the outer sleeve and these two parts may be secured together asby the threaded engagement 223. Thus, with movement of the nut 21) alongthe inner sleeve 2%, the two sleeve members move relative to each otherto open and close the valve.

The lower cylinder 220 is provided with a plurality of latching prongs224 which cooperate with slots 225 in the nut to hold the nut and lowercylinder against relative rotation. These latching prongs are carried byleaf springs 22:- and are moved to an out-of-the-way position by lugs227 carried on collar 2%.

Suitable means are provided to frictionally engage the wall of thecasing 22%. Preferably, two friction means are provided, one for each ofthe upper and lower cylinders 22d and 212. This friction means may takethe form of leaf springs 229 on the exterior of upper cylinder 212 andleaf springs 23% on the lower cylinder 22%. These springs are formedwith loop sections for drag engagement with the wall of casing 228.

In operation, the tool is run into the hole with the valve member ineither open or closed position. Usually it will be preferred to run thepipe with the valve closed to conduct various operations in the well.When it is desired to open the valve, the lugs of the upper collar 2Mare engaged with the inner sleeve 294 This engagement releases the latchmeans provided by latching prong 215. The lower latching means is stillin engagement and, therefore, the lower sprin s 23% will resist rotationof nut 219. Right-hand rotation of the pipe will move the outer sleeve2% upwardly along the sleeve 2% to align the ports 2% and 267 and openthe valve. In like manner, engagement of the lower lugs 227 with theslotted lower section of nut 219 and right-hand rotation of the pipewill move the inner and outer sleeves 204 and ass to the position shownin the drawings to again close the valve.

From the foregoing description it is believed evident that an improveddevice has been provided which is capable of being operated in twodirections by the rotation of the support pipe in the same direction forboth operations, whereby the usual right-hand couplings between thesections of the support pipe are always moved in a direction tending totighten such couplings. Although the invention has been described inconnection with right-hand rotation, it will be appreciated that bymaking the threads left-hand threads, the operation could be effected byrota tion in a left-hand or counter-clockwise direction. Ordinarily,this would not be desirable because drill pipe or support pipe isordinarily threaded in a right-hand direction, but it is to beunderstood that this invention includes such an arrangement, which maybe desirable should the support pipe be joined by left-hand threads.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size,shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction, may be made within the scope of the appended claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applicationSerial No. 390,3 86, filed November 5, 1953, and now abandoned, for WellPackers.

What is claimed is:

l. A well device adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising, asupport pipe, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on the supportpipe, a nut threaded on the sleeve, means on said pipe for supportingsaid sleeve and nut, first friction means having elements for engagingthe wall of the well casing to resist rotation and means associated withsaid friction means and engageable with the nut for resisting rotationof the nut, second friction means having elements for engaging the wallof the well casing to resist rotation and means associated with saidsecond friction means and engageable with the sleeve for resistingrotation of the sleeve, first selectively engaging clutch means carriedby the sleeve and support pipe at one end of the device and engaged whenthe sleeve and pipe are in a first relative position and disengaged whenthe sleeve and pipe are in a second relative position, and secondselectively engaging clutch means carried by the nut and support pipe atthe other end of the device and engaged when the sleeve and pipe are insaid second relative position and disengaged when the sleeve and pipeare in said first relative position, each such clutch means consistingof a clutch member and a coengaging clutch memher, said members of thefirst and second clutch means carried by the nut and sleeve spaced apartwhereby said first and second clutch means are alternately engageableand disengageable to alternately impart rotation to the sleeve and nutby unidirectional rotation of the pipe.

2. A well device adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising, asupport pipe, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on the supportpipe, a nut threaded on the sleeve, means for supporting said sleeve andnut on said pipe, first friction means having elements for engaging theWall of the well casing to resist rotation of said first friction means,first latch means for preventing relative rotation between the sleeveand first friction means, second friction means rotatable relative tothe nut and having elements for engaging the wall of a well casing toresist rotation of the second friction means, second latch means forpreventing relative rotation between the nut, and second friction means,first selectively engaging clutch means carried by the sleeve andsupport pipe engaged when the sleeve and pipe are in a first relativeposition and disengaged when the sleeve and pipe are in a secondrelative position, said first clutch means when engaging unlatching saidfirst latch means, and second selectively engaging clutch means carriedby the nut and support pipe engaged when the sleeve and pipe are in saidsecond relative position and disengaged when the sleeve and pipe are insaid first relative position, said second clutch means when engagingunlatching said second latch means, said second clutch means carried bythe nut spaced from the first clutch means carried by the sleeve, saidfirst and second clutch means being alternately engageable anddisengageable to alternately impart rotation to the sleeve and nut inthe same rotative direction with rotation of the pipe in said directionto move the nut along the sleeve in opposite directions.

3. The device of claim 2, together with an operable unit having one partmounted on the sleeve and another part mounted on the nut, said unit maybe operated to move its parts relative to each other on a change of therelative position of the sleeve with respect to the nut.

4. A well packer adapted to belowered into a well casing comprising, asupport pipe, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on the supportpipe, a nut threaded on the sleeve, means for supporting said sleeve andnut on said pipe, said sleeve and nut having confronting abutmeritsurfaces, an elastic packing element surrounding said sleeve andextending between said abut-ments, first friction means having elementsfor engaging the Wall of a well casing to resist rotation of said meansand means engageable with the nut for resisting relative rotation of thenut, second friction means having elements for engaging the wall of awell casing to resist rotation of said means and means engageable withthe sleeve and resisting relative rotation of the sleeve, firstselectively engaging clutch means carried by the sleeve and support pipeon one side of the packing element, and second selectively engagingclutch means carried by the nut and support pipe on the other side ofthe pac 'ing element, said second clutch means carried by the nut spacedfrom the first clutch means carried by the sleeve so that when one ofsaid first and second clutch means is engaged, the other of said firstand second clutch means is disengaged, said first and second clutchmeans being alternately engageable and disengageable to alternatelyimpart rotation to the sleeve and nut in the same rotative directionwith rotation or" the pipe in said direction to set and unset saidpacking element.

5. A well packer adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising, asupport pipe, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on the supportpipe, a nut threaded on the sleeve, means for supporting said sleeve andnut on said support pipe, said sleeve and nut having confrontingabutment surfaces, an elastic packing element surrounding said sleeveand extending between said abutments, first friction means rotatablerelative to the nut and having elements for engaging the wall of a wellcasing to resist rotation of the first friction means, first latch meansfor preventing relative rotation between the nut and first frictionmeans, second friction means rotatable relative to the sleeve and havingelements for engaging the wall of a well casing to resist rotation ofthe second friction means, second latch means for preventing relativerotation between the sleeve and second friction means, first selectivelyengaging clutch means carried by the nut and support pipe on one side ofthe packing element and when engaged unlatching said first latch means,and second selectively engaging clutch means carried by the sleeve andsupport pipe on the other side of the packing element and when engagedunlatching said second latch means, said second clut h means carried bythe sleeve spaced from the first clutch means carried by the nut so thatwhen one of said first and second clutch means is engaged, the other ofsaid first and second clutch means is disengaged, said first and secondclutch means being alternately engageable and releasable to alternatelyimpart rotation to the sleeve and nut in the same rotative directionwith rotation of the pipe in said direction to set and unset saidpacking element.

6. A well device adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising, asupport pipe, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on the supportpipe, a nut threaded on the sleeve, means for supporting said sleeve andnut on said pipe, a slip assembly for anchoring said device in a wellhaving a slip expander and slips, said slip expander carried by one ofsaid sleeve and nut, said slips carried by the other of said sleeve andnut, friction means having elements for engaging the wall of the wellcasing to resist rotation and means engageable with the nut and meansengageable with the sleeve, first selectively engaging clutch meanscarried by the sleeve and support pipe, and second selectively engagingclutch means carried by the nut and support pipe, said second clutchmeans carried by the nut spaced from the first clutch means carried bythe sleeve so that when one of said first and second clutch means isengaged, the other of said first and second clutch means is disengaged,said first and second clutch means being alternately engageable anddisengageable with vertical movement of the pipe to alternately impartrotation to the sleeve and nut in the same rotative direction withrotation of the pipe in said direction to longitudinally change theposition of the nut and the sleeve with respect to each other to therebypositively set or release the expander or slips.

7. A well device adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising, asupport pipe, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on the supportpipe, a nut threaded on the sleeve, means for supporting said sleeve andnut on said pipe, a slip assembly for anchoring said device in a wellhaving a slip expander and slips, said slip expander carried by one ofsaid sleeve and nut, said slips carried by the other of said sleeve andnut, first friction means rotatable relative to the nut and havingelements for engaging the wall of a well casing to resist rotation ofthe first friction means, first latch means for preventing relativerotation between the nut and first friction means, second friction meansrotatable relative to the sleeve and having elements for engaging thewall of a well casing to resist rotation of the second friction means,second latch means for preventing relative rotation between the sleeveand second friction means, first selectively engaging clutch meanscarried by the nut and support pipe on one side of the slip assembly andwhen engaged unlatching said first latch means, and second selectivelyengaging clutch means carried by the sleeve and support pipe on theother side of the slip assembly and when engaged unlatching said secondlatch means, said second clutch means carried by the sleeve spaced fromthe first clutch means carried by the nut so that when one of said firstand second clutch means is engaged, the other of said first and secondclutch means is disengaged, said first and second clutch means beingalternately engageable and releasable to alternately impart rotation tothe sleeve and nut in the same rotative direction with rotation of thepipe in said direction to set and unset said slip assembly.

8. A well device adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising, asupport pipe having a port in its side wall, a sleeve rotatably andslidably mounted on the support pipe, a nut threaded on the sleeve,means for supporting said sleeve and nut on said pipe, valve meanscontrolling fiow through said port and operated between open and closedpositions by relative movement of said sleeve and nut, friction meanshaving elements for engaging the wall of the well casing to resistrotation of said means and means associated with said friction meansengageable with the nut and means associated with said friction meansengageable with the sleeve, first selectively engaging clutch meanscarried by the sleeve and support pipe, and second selectively engagingclutch means carried by the nut and support pipe, said second clutchmeans carried by the nut spaced from the first clutch means carried bythe sleeve so that when one of said first and second clutch means isengaged, the other of said first and second clutch means is disengaged,said first and second clutch means being alternately engageable anddisengageable with vertical movement of the pipe to alternately impartrotation to aorsgsss the sleeve and nut in the same rotative directionwith rotation of the pipe in said direction to move the nut along thesleeve in opposite directions.

9. A well device adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising, asupport pipe having a port in its side wall, a sleeve rotatably andslidably mounted on the support pipe, a nut threaded on the sleeve,means for supporting said sleeve and nut on said pipe, valve meanscontrolling flow through said port and operated between open and closedpositions by relative movement of said sleeve and nut first frictionmeans rotatable relative to the nut and having elements for engaging thewall of a well casing to resist rotation of the first friction means,first latch means for preventing relative rotation between the nut andfirst friction means, second friction means rotatable relative to thesleeve and having elements for engaging the wall of a well casing toresist rotation of the second friction means, second latch means forpreventing relative rotation between the sleeve and second frictionmeans, first selectively engaging clutch means carried by the nut andsupport pipe on one end of the device and when engaged unlatching saidfirst latch means, and second selectively engaging clutch means carriedby the sleeve and support pipe on the other end of the device and whenengaged unlatchiug said second latch means, said second clutch meanscarried by the sleeve spaced from the first clutch means carried by thenut so that when one of said first and second clutch means is engaged,the other of said first and second clutch means is disengaged, saidfirst and second clutch means being alternately engageable andreleasable to alternately impart rotation to the sleeve and nut in thesame rotative direction with rotation of the pipe in said direction toopen and close said valve means.

10. A well tool comprising, a support pipe, a sleeve, a nut threaded onsaid sleeve, upper and lower clutch means on the support pipe, saidsleeve and nut being rotatably and slidably confined between said clutchmeans, said upper and lower clutch means being separated a distance fromeach other greater than the length of said sleeve and nut, firstfrictional means connected with the sleeve for frictional engagementwith the wall of the well casing to resist rotation of said sleeveinside the well casing, second frictional means connected with the nutfor frictional engagement with the wall of the well casing to resistrotation of said nut inside the well casing, an operable unit having onepart mounted on the sleeve and another part on said nut, whereby saidunit may be operated to move its parts relative to each other on achange of the relative position of the sleeve with respect to the nut,clutch means on said sleeve, clutch means on said nut, one of saidclutch means on the support pipe engageable with the clutch means on thenut, the other of said clutch means on the support pipe engageable withthe clutch means on the sleeve, said clutch means engageable alternatelyand selectively upon the support pipe being shifted axially, whereby thenut can be rotated while the sleeve remains stationary, or the sleevecan be rotated While the nut remains stationary.

11. A well device adapted to be lowered into a well casing comprising, asupport pipe, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted on the supportpipe, a nut threaded on the sleeve, means on said pipe for supportingsaid sleeve and nut, friction means having elements for engaging thewall of the well casing to resist rotation of said friction means, firstlatch means secured to one of said friction means and said nut andengaging the other of said friction means and said nut for preventingrelative rotation between the nut and friction means, second latch meanssecured to one of said friction means and said sleeve and engaging theother of said friction means and said sleeve for preventing relativerotation between the sleeve and friction means, first selectivelyengageable clutch means carried by the nut and support pipe and engagedwhen said sleeve and pipe are in a first relative position anddisengaged when the sleeve and pipe are in a second relative position,said first clutch means when engaged unlatching said first latch means,and second selectively engaging clutch means carried by the sleeve andsupport pipe and engaged when the sleeve and pipe are in said secondrelative position and disengaged when the sleeve and pipe are in saidfirst relative position, said second clutch means when engagedunlatching said second latch means, said second clutch means carried bythe sleeve spaced from said first clutch means carried by the nutwhereby when said first and second clutch means are alternately engagedand released with vertical movement of the pipe alternate rotation ofthe sleeve and nut in the same rotative direction will result fromrotation of the pipe in said rotative direction to positively screw orunscrew the nut and sleeve with respect to each other.

References (Iited in the file of. this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,092,048 Brown Sept. 7, 1937 2,205,748 Knox June 25, 1946 2,565,736McCarvell Aug. 28, 1951 2,647,008 Stewart July 28, ,1953 2,712,854Creighton July 12, 1955

1. A WELL DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE LOWERED INTO A WELL CASING COMPRISING, ASUPPORT PIPE, A SLEEVE ROTATABLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORTPIPE, A NUT THREADED ON THE SLEEVE, MEANS ON SAID PIPE FOR SUPPORTINGSAID SLEEVE AND NUT, FIRST FRICTION MEANS HAVING ELEMENTS FOR ENGAGINGTHE WALL OF THE WELL CASING TO RESIST ROTATION AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITHSAID FRICTION MEANS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE NUT FOR RESISTING ROTATIONOF THE NUT, SECOND FRICTION MEANS HAVING ELEMENTS FOR ENGAGING THE WALLOF THE WELL CASING TO RESIST ROTATION AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAIDSECOND FRICTION MEANS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SLEEVE FOR RESISTINGROTATION OF THE SLEEVE, FIRST SELECTIVELY ENGAGING CLUTCH MEANS CARRIEDBY THE SLEEVE AND SUPPORT PIPE AT ONE END OF THE DEVICE AND ENGAGED WHENTHE SLEEVE AND PIPE